Exploration Education Science Curriculum

Science Activity -- "Simply Sound"

This simple and effective activity exploring sound looks a little silly, but it works great! Children under nine may need help setting it up.

Materials needed:

•One metal fork
•One metal spoon

•Three to four feet of string
•One rubber band

.
Instructions:

Attach the middle of the string to the fork using a rubber band. Note: it is not important how the string is attached, as long as the rubber band holds the string to the fork.
Wrap the ends of the string around your two index fingers three times.
Without your fingers in your ears, have a friend hit the side of the fork with a spoon. Note how loud the sound is.
Now gently rest your fingers into your ears. Don’t push your fingers in too hard or you can hurt your ears.
Lean forward so the fork is hanging free and have a friend hit the side of the fork with the spoon.

Step 1

How does it work?
Sound travels through waves. It is similar to when a pebble is dropped into a pond and the waves ripple out from the center. Sound needs something to travel through. It can travel through air, liquid or solid. In this case, when the fork is hit with the spoon, the fork vibrates sending sound waves through the string, into your fingers, and then into your ears.

Step 2

Practical applications
Sound travels through many different mediums (substances). Of course we all know it travels through air, because that is how we talk to each other. Sound also travels through water, that is how dolphins and whales communicate to each other. Sound can even travel through solid rock. Interesting question – is there any sound in outer space?

More Testimonials